Welcome, this week the Lifting Our Game Report, which supports consistent early childhood funding to ensure children get the best possible start in life. Plus, seven sensational sensory play ideas.

Report prompts states and territories to call for permanent funding

A new report, endorsed by all the states and territories, calls on the Australian Government to provide permanent stable funding for the early childhood years.

Lifting Our Game, released in February, is the final report of a national education review on early childhood services – and strongly supports continued investment in the early years to ensure Australian kids do better at school and later in life.

According to our colleagues at Goodstart Early Learning, sensory play is any activity that stimulates a young child’s senses: touch, smell, taste, movement, balance, sight and hearing.

Sensory play activities facilitate discovery and learning by encouraging children to use scientific processes while they play, create, investigate and explore. Offering a wide range of sensory experiences is very beneficial for young children, research shows it can help build neural pathway connections, which improve a child’s ability to engage in more complicated learning.